Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger posts double-double

Sunday

Nov 18, 2012 at 6:00 AM

Say this about Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger — he doesn’t allow an off night to get him down. Sullinger bounced back from his worst game as a Celtics with his best, collecting 12 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes yesterday for his first NBA double-double in a 107-89 victory over Toronto at the Garden.

By Bill Doyle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

Say this about Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger — he doesn’t allow an off night to get him down.

Sullinger bounced back from his worst game as a Celtics with his best, collecting 12 points and 11 rebounds in 26 minutes yesterday for his first NBA double-double in a 107-89 victory over Toronto at the Garden.

In his previous game Thursday at Brooklyn, Sullinger had no points or rebounds and played just 7-1/2 minutes.

“He wasn’t happy about not playing against Brooklyn,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said, “and I just told all the guys, ‘If a guy got an offensive rebound on you, you’re coming out,’ and he was the first.”

“I wasn’t upset that I didn’t play a lot,” Sullinger insisted. “I was just upset that we lost.”

So Sullinger took his frustration out on the Raptors. He made 5 of 8 shots and grabbed four of Boston’s seven offensive rebounds. His previous career highs were six points and seven rebounds. Rivers likes the way Sullinger never loses his cool on the court.

“He’s a calming effect at times when you put him in,” Rivers said, “and I don’t think I’ve ever said that about a rookie.”

Sullinger enjoyed his first double-double.

“It feels good,” he said, “because I’m used to having double-doubles.”

As a freshman at Ohio State, Sullinger averaged a double-double — 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds — and as a sophomore last year, he nearly averaged a double-double again with 17.5 points and 9.2 rebounds.

Chris Wilcox scored eight points in a season-high 24:45 as he continues to battle his way back after undergoing heart surgery last March.

Because the Celtics don’t practice often, Rivers plays him in long stretches in lopsided games such as yesterday’s to get him in better shape.

Wilcox admitted his wind still isn’t where he wants it, but said he has overcome any mental hurdles following his surgery.

Rivers was shocked to hear that Hostess, the maker of Twinkies, was going out of business.

“Twinkies went out of business?” he said. “You’re kidding me. That (stinks). I didn’t know that. I haven’t had one in like 30 years now, but I’m sure it’s still in my body.”

Yesterday’s game was a rare early afternoon start, 12:30 p.m. to be exact, because before the lockout, the Bruins had been scheduled to host the Maple Leafs last night in what would have been a Boston-Toronto doubleheader.

The Celtics had trouble getting going in early-afternoon games early in the Big Three era.

“I’m fine with it,” Rivers said of the early start. “As a coach, I love them, not because of the game but because it gives you a ton of time after the game to prepare for the next game, but as a player I never liked them. They just come too quick. Most players are creature of habits and so it just takes you out of your routine. I think this is the only one this year, so that’s the good news.”

Actually, the Celtics will play four more early-afternoon games — at noon at Brooklyn on Christmas Day, and 1 p.m. games at home against Miami on Jan. 27, at home against the Clippers on Feb. 3, and at Oklahoma City on March 10.

Jason Collins, who made his Celtics debut Thursday at Brooklyn, wasn’t with the team yesterday because of a family emergency. Rivers wasn’t sure if Collins would be with the team tonight in Detroit.